Antiglare device for automobiles



July 8 1924. I 1,500,553

E. B. HOWELL ANTIGLARE DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Aug. 11. 1923 Patented July 8, 1924.

EDWARD B. HOWELL,

0F BUTTE, MONTANA.

-ANTIGLARE DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed August 11, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD B. HOWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Butte, in the county of Silver Bow and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Antiglare Devices for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to antiglare devices for automobiles.

As is well understood by those familiar with the driving of automobiles one of the most difficult things to contend with in night driving is the glare of the high power head lights of an oncoming car.

Various devices have heretofore been proposed for cutting ofl such glare and some have met the situation to a greater or less degree.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an anti-glare device which may be readily attached to the wind shield of a car and one which may be readily manipulated to bring it into operative position and as readily moved out of the line of vision to a position and condition where it is unobtrusive, yet ready for instantaneous manipulation when occasion requires that it be again brought to glare obstructing position.

The structure, by reason of its simplicity, as will hereinafter appear, is cheap of manufacture and easy of placement.

In the annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a face view of an automobile wind shield as seen from the inside of the machine, with the anti-glare structure in its folded or collapsed condition.

Fig. 2 a like view with the glare intercepting curtain pulled down into operative position.

Fig. 3 a detail sectional view.

Fig. 4 a detail perspective view illustrating one means for holding one end of the elastic bands which are attached to the cur tain, and

Fig. 5 a face view of a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 4:; 1 denotes the wind shield as a whole and 2 the usual upper panel or glass mounted in a frame the end bars of channels whereof are designated by 3 and 4.

Broadly stated the anti-glare device may be said to comprise a flexible curtain or shield mounted to slide and to be extended at one end upon a suitable guide, said ourtain being drawn and held across the wind Serial No, 656,858.

clination of the lower edge from the outer end to the inner end.

The curtain which is designated by 5 will be produced from a suitable flexible fabric such as thin denim. It will preferably be of a green color for obvious reasons.

The curtain is provided at its outer end with a pocket 6 adapted to receive a guide cord as 7 which is secured at its upper and lower ends to the frame member 3 in any suitable manner as by passing the same through eyes 8 secured to the frame. The curtain or screen at its opposite end has attached to it a series of tensioning elements as for instance rubber bands 9 passing through or secured to eyelets 10 secured in the inner end of the curtain. Said bands also pass through a common connector as, for example, a split ring 11. A cord 12 is also secured to the ring, the opposite end thereof being attached to the upper portion of the frame element 4:.

In positioning the parts cord 12 will be so drawn as to place the elastic elements 9 under a moderate degree of tension which will tend to draw the curtain endwise or to the right thereby causing the pocket 6 to be held. closely to and in frictional contact with the guide cord or element 7 Under such arrangement the outer end of the curtain or screen may be readily moved up and down on the cord and will, by reason of the frictional relation, maintain that position to which it may be moved or adjusted. In Figure 1 it is shown as being in its raised position, folded or plaited upon itself; in Figure 2 it is shown as drawn down into glare obstructing position. In this latter position it will be noted that the major portion of the wind shield is left unobstructed while that portion in front of the driver is covered. The degree or extent of area which is covered is under the control of the operator as he may pull it down to, a greater or less extent as desired or found necessary. A mere pull downwardly upon the lower edge of the curtain at its outer end serves to lower it and a push upwardly acts to remove it from the line of vision or into the position shown in Figure 2. To facilitate manipulation I preferably secure a button or knob as 13 to the lower end of the pocket,

the button being provided with an opening through whichthe guide member 7 passes.

It is manifest that the structure may be modified structurally. Thus-in Figure the inner plaited end of the curtain has secured to it a netted or cord like fabric as 14 and to this is secured a single tension producing element, as a spring 15 to which the-attaching cord 12 is secured. The manipulation of the curtain is however the same as above described. 7

While the structure was devised to obstruct the glare coming from head lights it wind shield; a vertical disposed .guide 10- cated at one end thereof; a flexible curtain one end of which has a sliding engagement with the guide; and means attached'to the opposite end of the curtain for holding the curtain taut, said means being secured to the upper portion of the wind shield.

3. In combination with an automobile windshield; a vertically disposed guide at one end thereof; a flexible curtain of a length .to extend part way over the shield, said curmm at its outer end having means frictionally engaging said guldez means engaging the opposite end of the curtain and normally holding the same in a plaited condition, said means embodying tensioning means; and means for securing the last named means to the upper portion of the opposite end of the wind shield.

a. As a new article of manufacture, a wind shield curtain formed of a flexible fabric, said curtain at one end having attached thereto outwardly extending spring means which normally-holds said end in a plaited condition and provided at its opposite end with means to receive-a guiding device.

5. In combination with an automobile windshield; a vertically disposed guide secured at one end thereof; a flexible curtain of a length to extend, partially across the wind shield,fsaid curtain havinga pocket formed in one end through which the guide passes; elastic devices secured to the opposite end of the curtain; and a cord extending from said devices to the upperportion of the wind shield opposite that to which the guide aforesaid is secured.

6. In combination with an automobile windshield, a flexible, collapsible curtain adapted to be placed'adjacent one end thereof directly in front of the driver, means acting on the curtain to hold it in a lengthwise extended position, and in a normally pleated condition, and a guide for one end of the curtain, the curtain having a sliding engagement with said guide whereby that portion adjacent to the guide may be. readily pulled downwardly to obstruct the drivers view and as readily moved up clear of the line of vision and to its fully pleated condi tion.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification.

EDWARD B. HOWVELL. 

